‘Pipe down!’ – Peckham Road seniors, 1948

I went to Peckham Rd seniors from 1948/50. I was in Mr Bonsor’s class. The Head Master was Mr Winsor then there was Mr Bloxham, Mr Ludlow the woodwork master, he was quite elderly and had been shell shocked during the first war, when talking to us his face would break into a stupid grin and he would give out a groan, any one who laughed would be on the end of a block of wood he would throw and kept handy. Mr Clarke and Mr Payne science teachers, Payne was a sadist at the end of a lesson everyone had to sit to attention, he would be at the back of the class, anyone who wriggled or moved he would creep up behind and flick their ears, while this was going on he would say ” you feel itchy you want to scratch your nose” which made you do just that. Another thing about him he had a scar on his face caused when he was handling Phosphorus. Mr Brassington, Mr Lawless, Mr Martin it was said he had been a fireman his favourite saying when calling the class to order was”pipe down” The Biology teacher I thought was Mr Haskey not Askey? but not sure, he rode an orange coloured bike to school but it was fitted with an oval chain wheel never seen one like it since. The Gym teacher was Mr Burrell he was probably the youngest teacher yet he was almost bald, he was always seen in a maroon track suit and gym shoes. Mr Winsor died during the summer holidays he was in his fifties.